Unique Peloponnese Itinerary: 10-Day Self-Driven Tour of Greece

What to expect on this itinerary
There are many ways to appreciate Greece, but none quite as rewarding as a tailored 10-day self-drive discovery of its Peloponnese Peninsula. Along the way and through the emerald mainland, stumble on incredible historical scenes, such as the destination where 300 Spartan warriors held thousands of Persian forces and the staggering viridian winelands of Nemea. Greece is yours to explore on this fascinating journey.
Customizable Itinerary
Galaxidi - Memories of the 300
In Athens, you will be introduced to the beauty of Greece as seen beneath the looming pillars of the Acropolis and the city’s humming streets. From here, you will collect your rental car and voyage through the country’s prolific mainland on a self-guided tour. Your journey will lead you to the mountain-flanked pastures of Thermopylae, the site where Leonidas’ 300 Spartan warriors battled thousands of Persian forces. History will give way to seaside scenes on the flowered banks of fishermen town Galaxidi this afternoon, where you will indulge in succulent seafood dishes under the Greek sun.
What's Included:
Olympia - The Oracle of Apollo
Kalamata - Recreations of Ancient Greece
Mani - The Sanctuary of Ancient Messene
Mani - On Quiet Shores
Monemvasia - Moments of Peace
Nafplio - This is Sparta
Nafplio - Mycenae and Epidaurus
Nafplio - Indulging in Nemea
Nafplio - Departure
Trip Highlights
- Stand in the very spot where 300 Spartans famously held off the advances of thousands of Persian forces in Thermopylae
- Discover the phenomenal landscapes that surround Delphi as well as the archaeological sites where Apollo is believed to have spoken to his oracle
- Explore the iconic Temple of Zeus and the athlete’s Stadium of Olympia during an augmented reality tour that recreates the ancient scenery
- Appreciate the spectacular seaside splendor of Kardamili, a historic town offered as a gift to Achilles during the great Trojan War
- Uncover more of the Peloponnese Peninsula’s charm during a visit of the humble fishing village of Limeni and a magnificent discovery of the geological sites within Diros Caves
- Traceback the years from 1249 to 1448, touring the Byzantine and Frankish origins of Mystra, and delve into the warring past in the city of Sparta
- Enjoy a true taste of Greece during a palate-pleasing tour of the Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil
- Delight in scenes and historical discoveries within the archaeological sites of Mycenae and Epidaurus
- Set off to the emerald hills of Nemea to satisfy your taste buds with the nuanced flavors of Greece’s prestigious wines at premier estates
Starting Price
$4,300 per person (excluding international flights)
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
Verified Traveler Reviews
Based on 85 reviews
Our trip was incredible! We were so impressed with the professionalism of Zicasso’s travel agent and the guides we had during our tours. Greece has been a long-dreamed-of destination and our time in Naxos, Santorini, and Athens exceeded our expectations. It was an easy process to give some guidance on what we liked to do and have a curated trip for our preferences. We would recommend the travel company to anyone needing help planning a trip!
See more
Me and my five friends did a girls' trip to Greece for 11 nights. I was nervous about planning a trip that far and did my research online. Zicasso received great reviews and I thought it was great to connect with a travel team in Greece. We worked with our travel agent for months to plan our trip of a lifetime. She took the time to listen to our needs with patience and also asked lots of questions to determine what the best itinerary for our vacation would be. She was amazing.
The transportation company that picked us up from locations and took us from hotel to hotel was amazing too.
We stayed in Athens the first few days and that was a great hotel. The rooms were spacious and we were right in the middle of town. We could walk anywhere we wanted to go, even to the Acropolis. We had wonderful tour guides, doing mostly private tours, and the guides felt like family at the end of our trip. We loved Athens, all the shopping and food and hustle and bustle of the city.
Our next adventure was Chania. That hotel was fabulous too. We loved the city and again, our hotel was within walking distance to everything. Our agent also provided us with ideas for restaurants the days we didn't have tours planned, as well as other things to see. Chania was one of our favorites, especially the tour of the 7 Villages of Apokoronas. What a beautiful tour, and we got to stop at a cheese factory, try cheese, hike, and learn about the olive trees and history. Our tour guide was amazing; so full of knowledge and such a wonderful and friendly personality.
Our next leg was the town of Rethymno. We loved it. It was so quaint and our hotel was the most beautiful boutique hotel, with so much history. We also did a walking tour of Rethymno Old Town and learned about the town and its historical places while snacking on Greek cookies and coffee. Our guide was amazing too. We had another private tour the next day of the Eleftherna and Rethymno villages, which were amazing to visit. Our agent kept us busy with lots of tours and we loved every minute of it.
We saw monasteries and also visited Heraklion, where we did a food and wine tour. That was so amazing too. The food in Greece and all the villages was also fresh and delicious. Every place we visited was fabulous. Our tour guide and his team did an amazing job.
We did a Heraklion Village tour and toured the Lasithi Plateau, which was beautiful. We stopped at a little café for coffee and ate lunch at a wonderful restaurant the tour company's owner suggested. It was the best food ever.
The hotels we stayed in were all top-notch. We requested four- and five-star hotels, which we got. Our drivers were always on time and went out of their way to make us happy. The breakfast in every hotel was amazing and delicious.
I had never been to a country that was so stress-free and where everyone was so nice and accommodating. I felt like we needed to stay another two weeks, but we will be back. Our agent was in touch with us the entire time and we appreciated that. She went above and beyond to ensure we were happy and having a great trip. We had no mishaps and can't wait to go back.
Thank you, Zicasso and our travel company, agent, and teams, for making the trip a memorable one and the trip of a lifetime. We love you all and you are family now.
Yamas!! Roxanne, Barbara, Nora, Frances, and Annette – California girls and Texas girls!
See more
See more
We had a wonderful time in Greece. We spent 10 days there and went to Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini. The accommodations were great and the planned excursions were fantastic. The weather was perfect.
See more
The trip was magical and I couldn’t be happier with the itinerary or the tour company. Zicasso's travel agent was on top of everything and available at a moment’s notice.
See more
The itinerary is not the best for the price we paid and for a family with two children. We thought we could come back to Greece, but after this trip, we might not come back or even use Zicasso again. Here are the reasons: 1. The hotels are subpar for the price we paid for this tour. Our hotel in Athens felt like a 2-star. Our hotel in Santorini has a great view, but it's just a view, no pool, etc. nearby. Our hotel in Crete is not near a beach, a 20-minute walk. 2. Too much time was wasted on travel from one location to the next (Santorini to Crete and Crete to Athens). 3. Four nights in Santorini with two children is overkill since there is not much to do other than take photos, hike, and that's basically it. 4. Some of the tours are okay but nothing special, i.e., the hiking tour in Crete where they call the "little forest" is merely just for the name. It has nothing to do with the tour guides. All tour guides are great. However, we feel the tour company is crafting ordinary tours, labels it special, and calls it private. 5. In Delphi, we could have had more time to look around after the two hours. If any of the tours were great, it was the tours we had in Athens and Delphi. If we had known this type of tour we received, we could have done an all-inclusive resort in Greece and done our own without having to go through Zicasso and the tour company.
See more





